Algora (Cretaceous to of Spain)

Where: Castilla-La Mancha, Spain (41.0° N, 2.7° W: paleocoordinates 29.1° N, 0.1° E)

• coordinate estimated from map

• outcrop-level geographic resolution

When: Arenas de Utrillas Formation, Middle Cenomanian to Middle Cenomanian (99.6 - 93.5 Ma)

• upper part of the “Arenas de Utrillas” Formation; latest middle Cenomanian to earliest late Cenomanian

• group of beds-level stratigraphic resolution

Environment/lithology: coastal; medium-grained, coarse, ferruginous sandstone

• Coastal deposits (bars and channels) reflecting subtidal and intertidal events
• Stratified sandy interval composed of sandstones of medium-large grain size divided into layers 2-3 m thick, with erosive bases and trough cross-bedding, many of which show two-way orientation (herringbone or chevron bedding), and contain soft muddy clasts, armoured mud balls, fragments of ferruginous crusts and plant and vertebrate remains. These sandstone layers are separated by 0.2-0.4 m of sandy mudstone interbeds, with wavy bedding and notable lateral continuity.

Size classes: macrofossils, mesofossils

Collected in 1980s, 2013

Collection methods: surface (float), surface (in situ),

Primary reference: A. Torices, F. Barroso-Barcenilla, O. Cambra-Moo and A. Pérez-García. 2012. Palaeontological and palaeobiogeographical implications of the new Cenomanian vertebrate site of Algora, Guadalajara, Spain. Cretaceous Research 37:231-239 [P. Mannion/P. Mannion/M. Carrano]more details

Purpose of describing collection: general faunal/floral analysis

PaleoDB collection 132494: authorized by Philip Mannion, entered by Philip Mannion on 20.08.2012, edited by Matthew Carrano, Patricia Holroyd and Evangelos Vlachos

Creative Commons license: CC BY (attribution)

Taxonomic list

• The specimens are currently held in the Departamento de Geología of the Universidad de Alcalá de Henares (MSA).
 Tracheophyta -
Tracheophyta indet.
MSA-001; Numerous fragments of wood
Cycadopsida
 Cycadales - Cycadaceae
Cycadaceae indet. Persoon 1807 cycads
Sections of large trunks
Gymnospermae
  -
"Gymnospermae indet." = Pinophyta
"Gymnospermae indet." = Pinophyta Reveal 1996
Sections of large trunks
Bivalvia
  -
Bivalvia indet. Linnaeus 1758 clam
MSA-002; Moulds of undetermined bivalves
 Vertebrata -
Vertebrata indet. vertebrate
MSA-015, 016, 019; bones and coprolites
Reptilia
 Testudinata - Helochelydridae
aff. Plastremys lata4 Owen 1881 turtle
MSA-010; Carapace and plastron plates
 Testudines - Bothremydidae
Algorachelus peregrinus n. gen. n. sp.3
Algorachelus peregrinus n. gen. n. sp.3 Pérez-García 2017 sideneck turtle
MSA-005-009; Carapace and plastron plates: probably representatives of Pan-Pleurodira
 Loricata -
Neosuchia indet. Clark 1988 crocodilian
MSA-011-014; Osteoderms, scarce fragments of bones, and teeth
Eusuchia indet.4 crocodilian
ALG 189-191
 Theropoda -
Theropoda indet.4 Marsh 1881 theropod
ALG 192, caudal vertebral centrum
 Theropoda - Abelisauridae
cf. Abelisauridae indet.4 Bonaparte and Novas 1985 ceratosaur
MSA-017, 018, 3 teeth
 Saurischia -
Lithostrotia indet.2 Wilson and Upchurch 2003 sauropod
ALG 140-151 (vertebrae and limb bones)
 Plesiosauria - Elasmosauridae
Elasmosauridae indet.1 Cope 1869 elasmosaur
ALG 139 (caudal vertebra and pelvis)
Actinopteri
 Lepisosteiformes - Obaichthyidae
Obaichthys africanus4 gar
MSA-003; Ganoid scales
Obaichthys africanus4 gar
MSA-004; Ganoid scales: could belong to semionotids or lepisosteids, or might also belong to Stromerichthys sp.